ALEXANDRIA, Va. – As the most accessible health care providers in many communities, neighborhood pharmacists are well-positioned to assist with efforts to curb and contain the coronavirus outbreak, the National Community Pharmacists Association said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ top emergency preparedness official. Dr. Robert Kadlec, the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, was tasked last week with coordinating the government’s response to the ongoing outbreak.

Doug Hoey

Detailing specific ways that community pharmacy can intervene and provide patient services as part of a robust and successful national response, NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey said:

“I write today to offer our willingness to work collaboratively with HHS to curb the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and play an integral role in any containment campaign. Independent community pharmacy is ready and willing to help and is well‐positioned to be part of the solution. … Throughout history community pharmacists have proven time and time again their ability to adapt to the needs of the communities they serve, an example being the important role community pharmacy played with H1N1. Pharmacies routinely partner with state and local health departments to ensure vaccines are available and administered by a health care professional, a community pharmacist, in a convenient location, a community pharmacy.”

View the NCPA letter here. NCPA has also developed a resource page for community pharmacists that will include timely information on the outbreak.